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'The Big Bang Theory': What's Sheldon's deal?

February 13, 2009 | 5:47
pm

If you were a brilliant nerd, what would get you hottest under the collar?

A chance encounter on a fast-moving train with Summer Glau, that object of lust for fanboys across fandom? Or a stimulating conversation with Dr. George Smoot, the astrophysicist who is merely responsible for our understanding of the universe?

Our favorite CBS nerds are about to find out. In an upcoming episode of "The Big Bang Theory," Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayar) take a train trip to San Francisco to attend a symposium in which Dr. Smoot is the keynote speaker. Yes, the real Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Smoot, the one who also nabbed the Albert Einstein Medal and helped establish the big-bang theory of the universe. (How's that for stunt casting?)

But before Sheldon can present Dr. Smoot with a paper he's been working on, the boys discover that their favorite sci-fi actress, Glau ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), is on the train too. Of course, we can expect comedy will ensue with the boys arguing about who gets to approach Glau and Sheldon pining for Dr. Smoot.

You will recall that Penny (Kaley Cuoco) asked in a recent episode what Sheldon's deal is — wanting to know if it's girls, guys or sock puppets. And Leonard explained that they've been operating under the assumption that "he has no deal."